Grain Vessel (gui) with Square Base, Design of Coiled Serpents, and Handles in the Form of Dragons

This covered food container was originally part of a set of eight identical ritual bronzes, six of which have survived. The exuberant, rampant dragons on this impressive ritual bronze vessel were once enhanced by an elaborate cover. Like this bronze, each of the five other vessels features a simplified version of the wave pattern. In this vessel the wave is reduced to a line in low relief and is invigorated by the drama of these flamboyant dragons with their flowing manes and sinuous, snakelike bodies. The cover was ringed with eight flaring, openwork petals and the same rhythmic pattern found on the round vessel and its square base.